Urbino and Montefeltro: in the land of dukes

History, art and nature merged to form one of the most evocative itineraries of central Italy. It starts in Urbino, cradle of Renaissance, hometown to Bramante and Raffaello, capital of the Montefeltro earls and dukes dynasty. Then it touches the hills of this green garden dotted with fortresses and Medieval castles. Up until San Leo citadel, the impregnable fort where Cagliostro was confined.

A trip in the history that made of Urbino the cradle of Renaissance among the landscapes of Montefeltro, the "green garden" of central Italy. An extremely varied territory through valleys and hills, historical and artistical relevant evidences that help, together with the kind reception and the great cooking, in making this area a really special one.

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Urbino, between the Foglia and the Montefeltro valleys, reached its maximum splendour under the Montefeltro reign (1000-1626) that ended when Francesco Maria II della Rovere consigned this territories to the Pope Urbano VIII. Under Federico II da Montefeltro, first earl and then duke, Urbino grew into one of the main Renaissance centres of culture and art and it gave birth both to Bramante and to Raffaello Sanzio.

But the best way to appreciate Urbino is to take a walk in its delightful old centre, among noble palaces spread along the typical streets and alleys, like the one hosting the University which used to be a residence for the Montefeltro family. Also the treasures of its beautiful churches and convents are numerous: it is worth visiting the S. Domenico church, with a marvellous travertin portal, the Medieval San Francesco, showing a nice Gothic cuspidated bell tower, and the neopalladian massive structure of the Cathedral which was rebuilt by Valadier after the earthquake in 1784. The home where Raffaello was born is now seat of the Raffaello Academy founded in 1869.

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Montefeltro extends in the Northern part of Marche close to Romagna and Tuscany. Pennabilli, its main locality, is a popular Summer holiday resort and lays under the two characteristic rocks called del Roccione and della Rupe. About the year 1000 it was a fief of the Carpegna earls and derives its name from the fusion of the Penna and of the Billi castles. The rests of this last one, where the Malatesta family had orgin, may still be seen today. On the Penna rock you should see the sanctuary of di S. Agostino (also said Madonna delle Grazie) and the Cathedral of late Renaissance origins. Outside the village raises the Country Church of S. Pietro in ponte Messa, built as an abbey in the late Middle Age on the ruins of a pagan temple.

An excellent example of the Renaissance military architecture is the imposant Fortress (where today are hosted a Museum and a Picture Gallery). It occupies the peak of the rock and its nowadays aspect is due to Francesco di Giorgio Martini's intervention which was commitioned by Federico da Montefeltro in 1475.

Vacanze a Urbino e Montefeltro

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